Window structure for deckhouse



Dec. 21, 1954 D. H. MONTGOMERY WINDOW STRUCTURE FOR DECKHOUSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14. 1948 l- IN'H:

ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1954 D. H. MONTGOMERY 2,697,257

WINDOW STRUCTURE FOR DECKHOUSE Filed May 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I in HEM .J url ILL- I I I III! United States Patent Office 2,697,257 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 2,697,257 WINDOW STRUCTURE FOR DECKHOUSE Donald H. Montgomery, West Hartford, Conn, Connecticut Bank and Trust Company, Hartford, Conn., administrator c. t. a. of said Donald H. Montgomery, deceased Application May 14, 1948, Serial No. 26,943 9 Claims. (Cl. 20-40) My invention relates to an improved housing construction, and in particular to a housing construction for application to a deck house or the like for a boat.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved construction of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide an improved construction that may be strong, relatively light in weight, and well sealed against moisture.

It is a further object to provide a construction that may lend itself readily to mass-production techniques.

It is a specific object to provide an improved means for assembling a deck-house roof and for making a tight well-sealed joint at the peak thereof.

It is another specific object to provide an improved simple and efficient port-hole or window-pane construction in a deck house of the character indicated-a construction in which splash water may be properly drained, even for an open-window setting.

It is a further specific object to provide an improved adjustable window opening in a construction of the character indicated.

Other objects and various further features of the invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectionalized fragmentary view of a deck-house construction incorporating features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1'

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating a clamping mechanism for the arrangement of Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating a modified construction.

Briefly stated, my invention in a preferred form contemplates a construction in which substantially parallel, spaced, reinforcing ribs are preassembled with roof, siding, or other panels and in which final assembly of such sub-assemblies incorporates novel means. The invention is described in application to the joining of two such subassemblies at the peak of the roof of a deck house or the like, each subassemblv including reinforcing ribs running generally normal to the peak line and serving to support or reinforce both a roof portion and a side portion. When the peak edge of each subassembly panel has been cut to the correct size for the installation to be made, novel adjustable tying means are employed to pull opposite ribs toward each other and to form a weather-tight seal of adjoining roof portions at the peak. Window openings may be provided between ribs, and I disclose novel means for producing not only a weathertight seal at such openings, but also any desired adjusted window position between closed-tight and wide-open positions.

Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown in application to a housing construction for a deck house or the like. The construction may employ a number of generally upright parallel ribs 10 in a first subassembly and a number of correspondingly spaced ribs 11 in a sec- 0nd and opposite subassembly. In the form shown, the first subassembly comprises a top or roof panel 12 joined by a curved portion to a side panel 13. If desired, the

panels 12-13 may be formed as one unit by the familiar plastic-bonded, molded-plywood techniques. The second subassembly, which is reinforced by the ribs 11, may be similarly formed and is shown to include a top panel 14 facing the top panel 12 of the first subassembly. Window openings, such as the opening 15, may be preformed with the panel and rib subassemblies and are preferably symmetrically spaced between adjacent ribs 10 or 11, as the case may be.

The roof contour shown is that generally known as the Tudor arch, with the roof panels 1214 generally straight and slightly sloping from the peak, which occurs at their juncture. Depending upon the width of the cabin or other enclosure to be spanned by my construction, the roof panels 12-14 may be appropriately cut off to the right length after subassembly and just prior to final assembly according to the invention. As indicated generally above, final assembly may be effected by adjustable means tying opposite adjacent ends of the ribs 10-11 together at the peak. In the form shown, this adjustable means utilizes two U-brackets or straps 16-17 pinned, as at 18-19, to the ribs 10-11 and adjustably joined to each other, as by nut-and-bolt means 19. A gasket of sealing material, such as the rubber strip 20, is preferably inserted between adjacent edges of the roof panels 12-14 so that as the adjustable means 19 is taken up there may be an effective seal.

In order that the take-up of bolt 19 may be very tight, that is, to produce a rigid assembly of both halves of the deckhouse, I employ spacer means 21 to be abutted by both of the opposing ribs 10-11. In the form shown, the spacer means 21 is a longitudinally extending member to be abutted by a number of opposed pairs of ribs 10-11 and it is disposed between the roof peak and the adjustable take-up means 19. The length to which the roof panels 12-14 are cut off is preferably such that there may be a very rigid connection between the reinforcing ribs 10-11 and that there may be only sufficient squeezing force applied by the roof panels 12-14 to the sealing strip 20 to effect the necessary seal. In such case, it will be appreciated that the roof panels 12-14 need not be stressed to the point of taxing the effectiveness of their bond to the reinforcing ribs 10-11.

In order to offset any possible tendency of the peak to bulge upwardly upon too great take-up of the adjustable means 19, I prefer to employ bracket means 22 which may be carried by the spacer member 21 and positively engage the adjustable means 19. It will be clear that, since the securing means 19 tends to straighten between pins 18 as the adjustment is tightened, and since the bulging tendency occurs only with the tighter adjustments of the bolt 19, the bracket 22 may serve to offset outward bulging by an inward pulling under such stressed conditions.

For a clean appearance, I provide a simple means for covering all joints made in the manner described and for enclosing electrical and other cables which it may be desirable to install longitudinally of the structure. In the form shown, a small generally U-shaped cover or case 23 is formed for insertion between adjacent ribs 10-10 and 11-11, and if desired notches may be provided at each end, as at 24, for continuity of fit between adjacent covers 23. The cover 23 may be of translucent plastic construction, and its feet or upper edges may be positively located by small guide channels 25 secured to the inside of the roof panels 12-14. Straps such as the strap 26 may cover the joint between adjacent covers 23 and be secured as by screws 27 to each of a pair of opposed ribs 10-11, as will be clear. For the conduct of electric cables, control wires or the like, the spacer means 21 may be provided with longitudinally extending grooves 28 to be closed upon installation of the wiring or other control means, as will be understood. If the cover 23 is translucent, as suggested, lamps such as the lamp 28 may be conveniently mounted, as schematically indicated, within the cover 23, for a soft and pleasing appearance.

Although it will be clear that the described joint construction for a roof peak may be extremely rigid and strong for its size and weight, it may be preferred to protect the top panels 12-14 from undue wear if the roof is to be walked upon. In such case, a number of strips 29 may be set in spaced ribs 30 to provide a grating over the roof. The grating 30 may not only provide a better footing but also protection for the seal means 20 and a better weight distribution over the assembled deck.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, I provide novel means for adjustably setting and closing window openings such as the window opening 15. Where an efiective seal is of prime importance, as in a deck house, the window opening 15 preferably includes inwardly extending sealing means such as a strip 31 of sealing material, which may be bonded to or otherwise carried by a finishing flange member or frame 32 for the window 15. The frame member 32 will be seen to include a peripherally extending flange 33 for attachment to the side panel 13, and, if desired, drain means such as scuppers 34 may be provided at the bottom edge of the flange 33 so as to provide a drain opening for the bottom edge of the Window opening 15 should water collect therein as in the case of an opened window.

To close the window opening pane 35 of glass or the like material, which may be of relatively inexpensive rectangular cut, extending substantially the full spacing between adjacent ribs 13 and of an area in excess of that bounded by the strip 31 of resilient material. On one side of the window opening 15, and in the form shown on the lower side thereof, I provide a frame member 36 adjacent to side panel 13 with an inclined camming surface or edge 37 spaced from the nearest part of the seal member 31 by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the window pane 35. In such case, it will be clear that when the window pane is slid down for insertion into the space between resilient member 31 and the surface 37, and when the upper part of the window pane 35 is thereafter pressed against the upper part of the seal member 31 in a window-closing direction, the window pane 35 will be forced to compress the seal member 31 and to form an effective seal against lower portions thereof. Novel clamping means 38 may be employed to secure the upper part of the window pane 35 to the upper part of the window opening 15 so as to complete a full peripheral seal of the window. If desired, the inclined or camming surface 37 may be lined with a metallic strip 37' in order to minimize wear at the location where the pane 35 bears against the cam surface 37.

In the form shown, the clamping means 38 is almost completely carried on the window pane 35 and for this purpose a framing channel 36 may be cemented or otherwise bonded to the upper edge of the window pane 35. The clamping means 38 may include a first cam 39 to cooperate with a bracket member 40 fixed to the side panel 13, and the cam 39 may be pivoted on a longitudinal axis provided by a rod 41 supported as at spacers 42-43. A handle 44 may serve to rotate the cam 39 about the rod 41 for securing the same against the bracket 40.

In the form shown, a down position of the handle 44 represents maximum clamping action wherein the highest point 45 of the cam 39 engages the lip of the bracket 40. When the handle 44 is raised, the cam 39 will be understood to approach the upright surface 46 of bracket 40 so as to engage the same and provide an outward camming action for purposes of forcibly dislodging the window pane 35, should there be any sticking. When fully raised, the handle 44 will have carried the cam 39 to a point where its low side 47 (shown as a flat) is in clearance relation beneath the lip of the bracket 40. Raising the handle 44 thus may have the effects not only of forcibly disengaging the window pane from the closure but also of opening the securing latch.

In accordance with the invention, operation of the han dle 44 may perform still another function, which may be useful in securing the window pane 35 in any adjusted partially open or fully opened position, as shown by the dot-dashed position 35. In the form shown this function is accomplished by second cam means 48 in the form of an inclined end on the boss 49 to which the handle 44 is secured and which carries the cam 39. The cam surface 48 may cooperate with a correspondingly surfaced follower member 50, pinned as at 51 to the rod 41, and the outer end of rod 41 may carry a dowel 52 of rubber or other friction material to engage one of the ribs 10. The rod 41 is preferably keyed against rotation as by fitting a squared end 53 thereof in a correspondingly formed hole in the spacer member 43. A compression 15, I employ a single both cam means.

spring 54 between the spacer member 42 and the camfollower block complete the second cam means. It will beunderstood that upon raising the handle 44 the block 50 may be urged to the right against the action of spring 54 so as to withdraw the friction block 52 from engagement with the rib 10. When a desired position of the window pane 35 is found, it will only be necessary to lower the handle 44 in order to permit a resiliently applied friction grip by block 52 on the rib 10, to hold the adjusted position.

While it is clear that the described construction of my two clamping means may provide for efiiciently sealing a window opening and for adjustably opening the same, I prefer that the handle 44 actuate a dual system of Thus, a cam 55 may engage a further bracket 56 on the cover panel 13 in order to provide added effectiveness of seal for a closed window, and cam means similar to the cam surface 48 may urge a block 57 for the adjustable positioning of a friction block 53 to engage another frame rib 10. It will be understood that all cams may operate in unison so that a person operating the handle 44 may know that the down position represents a secured window whether the window is secured tight shut or partially or fully open.

In order to guard the window pane 35 and also to provide a means of fully opening the window, I provide ledges on all the frame ribs 10 which are adjacent a Window opening. In the form shown, the ledges are provided by channel members 59, each having a bottom wider than the width of the ribs 10, and to avoid rattles the upturned edges of channels 59 may be covered with rubber or rubber-like material 60. The ledges provided by channels 59 may be of artistic appearance and extend for the full exposed inner edge of the ribs 10, that is, from the lower edge of the window opening 15 up and under the roof at least as far as the cover member 23 for the peak joint. It will be clear that in addition to providing an artistic appearance, the ledges of channels 59 may provide a retaining means for supporting fully retracted window panes such as window pane 35 in the dot-dashed outline position 35"; these ledges may also serve the function of a gutter, catching whatever water may splash around the side edges of an open or partially open window pane 35, and draining such water to the camming surface or gutter 37, for conduct to the scuppers 34.

If desired, appearance of my clamping means for the window pane 35 may be enhanced by the use of a channel member 61 as a frame on which to support the clamping means. The spacer members 42-43 may then reinforce the channel 62, and small windows or slots 63 need only be punched for accommodation of the handle 44 throughout its angular travel (when setting the clamping means).

In addition to the function of aiding in the support of the window pane 35 for partially open positions, the projecting ledges of the channels 59 may provide a support rack, as for a novel window shade 64. The window shade 64 may be a generally rectangular sheet of preferably opaque plastic material, to be slidingly inserted behind the window pane 35 and thus to close off admission of light. If desired, securing means similar to the outwardly urged friction grip 52--58 may be applied to the window shade 64, but in the form shown a simple handle 65 may be sufiicient, for it will be understood that the window shade 64 may be retained against the window pane 35 and underneath the handle 44 whenever it is desired to shade the window opening 15.

It has been explained how the downwardly inclined surfaces of the window-ledge member 36 may function as gutter means to collect splash-water drainage from channels 59 and to conduct such water to scuppers 34. In certain applications it may be desired that the scuppers be effectively closed to the direct entrance of water from outside, as when heavy slashing is anticipated. For such eventualities, I provide one-way drain means in the form of a flap valve 34' (Fig. 6), to open for drainage purposes, but to remain closed against admission of water.

It will be seen that I have described a relatively simple deck-house construction which lends itself readily to massproduction techniques and to the employment of relatively inexpensive components. The unique employment "of the ribs 1011 permits not only a rugged peak construction but also the efficlent placement and utilization of window space, for windows of the character described may be provided between every two adjacent ribs, if

against inadvertent dropping out of I desired. The indicated useful structural benefits may be even obtained with an enhanced pleasing appearance.

Although the deck-house construction of the drawings has been described as being all wood, with plywood panels 1213-14, it will be clear that other arrangements may be feasible. For example, the rib construction -111, as joined at the spacer member 28, may adequately support sheet-metal panels in place of the panels 121314. Such metal panels might even be laid over the ribs 10-11 after said ribs have been joined and assembled in the described manner, and when so applied, metal panels might desirably run continuously from one side of the deckhouse to the other, over the peak of the roof, as will be understood. Thus, in accordance with the invention, it is not necessary that the roof and side panels 12-l314 be aflixed to the ribs 10-41 prior to assembly of the ribs at the peak; but I do prefer that this order of assembly be followed in the case of plywood panels 12-13-14, as shown.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a construction of the character indicated, a housing panel having a generally rounded window opening, two generally parallel ribs on opposite sides of said opening, gutter means on the underside of said opening and spanning the distance between said ribs, a ledge on each of said ribs and including a part extending toward the other of said ribs and a generally upwardly extending part, whereby, in conjunction with one of said ribs, one of said ledges constitutes an upwardly open channel, said ledge being continuous along said rib and terminating at said gutter means so as to form a gutter to communicate with said gutter means, and window-closure means of width less than the spacing between said ribs but greater than the distance between the ledges on said ribs, whereby said closure means may cover said opening in one position and rest against the ledges on said ribs in another position.

2. In a window construction of the character indicated, a housing panel having a window opening, an inwardly facing substantially continuous strip of sealing material around said opening, said panel including a sloping cam surface on one side of said opening and generally opposite the resilient sealing material at said side, a window panel having an edge to engage said cam surface and having an area exceeding the area bounded by said strip of resilient material, whereby said window panel may substantially continuously abut said resilient material when in engagement with said cam surface, and clamping means including a wedge and cam cooperating between the other side of said window panel and with said housing panel for compressibly securing said panels together at said other side, said clamping means including a manually movable member acting between said window and housing panels in a sense drawing said panels toward or away from each other in response to movement thereof, whereby when so secured said window panel may be in sealing engagement with said resilient material at both said sides of the opening.

3. In a construction of the character indicated, a housing panel having a window opening, two substantially parallel reinforcing ribs on opposite sides of said opening, a substantially continuous strip of resilient sealing material facing inwardly at the edge of said opening and between said ribs, a window pane having an exposed surface area in excess of that bounded by said resilient sealing material, a cam surface fixed with respect to said housing panel and inclined with respect to the slope of said panel at the opening and spaced from a part of said resilient material by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of said window pane, and clamping means including cooperating wedge and cam parts on said window pane and said panel on a side of said opening away from the side on which said camming surface is disposed, said clamping means including a manually movable member with a clamping action generally transverse to the plane of said pane.

4. In a construction of the character indicated, a housing panel having a window opening, a flanged window-frame member fitted to said panel on the outside of said opening and including a peripherally continuous inwardly extending rim, inwardly extending sealing material carried by said rim, a exposed surface area in excess of that bounded by said resilient material, wedge means adjacent a portion of said resilient material and to be engaged by a side of said window pane, a manually movable clamp including a manually movable cam carried by said window pane on the side thereof generally opposite the side to be engaged by said wedge, said clamp having a clamping action substantially transverse to the plane of said pane, and bracket means on said panel to be engaged by said cam.

5. A construction according to claim 4, and including resiliently expansible means carried by said window pane for resilient engagement with both said adjacent ribs, said last-defined means including a cam for relieving said resiliently expansible means.

6. A construction according to claim 4, in which said window pane is rectangular and of width substantially equal to the spacing between said adjacent ribs, and in which each of said ribs includes a ledge projecting toward the other or" said ribs, the space between opposed adjacent ledges being less than the width of said pane, whereby wh n not clamped against said bracket said window pane may rest against said ledges.

7. in a construction of the character indicated, a housing panel having a generally rounded window opening, an inwardly projecting rim of sealing material at said opening, two generally parallel ribs on opposite sides of said opening, a generally rectangular window pane of width substantially equal to the spacing between said ribs but in clearance relation with said ribs, a wedge surface inclined to said panel at said opening and spanning the distance between said ribs and spaced from a part of said resilient material by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of said window pane, whereby one edge of said pane may engage said wedge surface, and manually adjustable clamping means including manually movable wedge and cam parts cooperating between said window pane and said panel on the side of said opening opposite the side on which said cam surface is disposed, said clamping means having a clamping action substantially transverse to the plane of said pane.

8. A construction according to claim 7, in which said clamping means further includes elongated members longitudinally movably carried at the upper part of said pane, and means connecting said members for spreading movement upon manual actuation of said clamping means.

9. in a construction of the character indicated, a housing panel having a window opening, a window panel removably fitting over the inner edges of said opening, two substantially parallel vertical reinforcing ribs secured to said housing panel on opposite sides of said opening, gutter means communicating with the outside of said housing panel and including an upwardly open gutter ledge on each of said ribs, each said gutter ledge including a part extending toward the other of said ribs and a generally upwardly extending part, said ledges extending substantially parallel to each other and converging downwardly toward said housing panel substantially at the lower edge of said opening, said window panel being of width exceeding the minimum space between adjacent ledges for said opening, the alignment of said ledges conforming with the vertical sectional contour of said window panel, whereby said window panel may rest against said ledges in a backwardly inclined open position and yet said ledges may provide gutter action for water splashed against the open window.

window pane having an References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 76,793 Mills Apr. 14, 1868 1,162,494 Kohler Nov. 30, 1915 1,707,101 Taylor Mar. 26, 1929 1,853,317 Packer Apr. 12, 1932 1,995,939 Osten Mar. 26, 1935 2,123,106 Haberstump July 5, 1938 2,167,974 Edwards Aug. 1, 1939 2,174,781 Edwards Oct. 3, 1939 2,325,747 Dailey Aug. 3, 1943 2,349,684 Stannard May 23, 1944 2,376,695 Hill May 22, 1945 2,465,603 Potchen Mar. 29, 1949 

